Saturday, October 13, 2007

Last night on Real Time with Bill Maher, in his New Rules segment, Bill Maher addressed the big dust-up over Barack Obama no longer wearing an American flag pin in his lapel. As Obama said,

"The truth is that right after 9-11 I had a pin. Shortly after 9-11, particularly because as we're talking about the Iraq war, that became a substitute for I think true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security.

I liked that statement. The truth is, after 9-11, my wife and I were swept up in rallies with flags, people running down the street shouting USA, and all that. But patriotism is more than a flag, and more than a pin. But the right-wing media started harping on it, as though not wearing the lapel pin was a sin. Remember being a kid and the response you'd get if you didn't wear green on St. Patrick's Day? Please.

Bill said:

"No lapel pin, Senator? It's like not wearing pants. Why don't you just stab the Statue of Liberty in the eye while bitch-slapping a 9/11 widow?" Another in a series of bullsh*t non-stories that have zero effect on the troops, the war or anything in the real world -- or, as Fox calls it, "Breaking News."

Not Fox News, Faux News, as I like to call them.

And more:

Of course, the Republicans are the party of Mark Foley and the Rev. Ted Haggard and Larry Craig and countless other closeted homosexuals, so their fixation on jewelry is understandable, but still ... the flag is just a symbol. You're getting pissy about a brooch, you drama queens, one that was probably made in China. It's probably leaking poison lead on you right now.

At least that would be some sacrifice, because let's be honest: this generation doesn't do real sacrifice or even pay for our own wars. That's what grandkids are for! No, we do flag pins and bumper stickers. And not even bumper stickers. Bumper magnets. Because stickers are tough to get off, and we may change our mind about never forgetting.

When I see the little flag right here, the first thing I think is, you voted for, and still like, George Bush, the man who has gotten more troops unnecessarily killed and maimed by failing to plan for their mission, by pushing their units to the breaking point, by letting his corporate enablers like Halliburton, Bechtel and Blackwater rape and pillage not just the Iraqis, but our own army.

Let's call this kerfuffle "Lapelgate." I hope voters aren't so ignorant --- or disinterested --- of the real issues --- that they vote based on wearing a piece of jewelry.

Watch the whole video. Note the piece on Obama is the last part of New Rules.

Congratulations to Bill for pointing out the obvious... You do not need a lapel pin to prove your patriotism.Most those who wear pins do so because it is in vogue this month. They do it to get the admiration of others, not because they actually do something about that patriotism...

Rush Limbaugh makes the same kind of comments and he's blasted a racist, homophobe,and several things not printable. Bill Maher,who failed miserably at an acting carreer,says the opposite of Limbaugh,and he's the next Veep.

Bill Maher does not kick ass....he IS an ass.Every news services,.EXCEPT fox news puts its "USA is to blame" spin on every news story.While liberal pinheads are blogging....look up the news ratings. Fox is way out front of all others,those are the facts.Little sawed off BM should spend a few months in Iraq...but iy is easier for cowwards like him to sit home and make up "facts" and cry.What a loser.

"Anonymous said... Rush Limbaugh makes the same kind of comments and he's blasted a racist, homophobe,and several things not printable. Bill Maher,who failed miserably at an acting carreer,says the opposite of Limbaugh,and he's the next Veep."

If Bill is saying the opposite of Rush, and people blast Rush, maybe you should take a second look at what Rush is saying.

Anonymous said...Bill Maher does not kick ass....he IS an ass.Every news services,.EXCEPT fox news puts its "USA is to blame" spin on every news story.While liberal pinheads are blogging....look up the news ratings. Fox is way out front of all others,those are the facts.Little sawed off BM should spend a few months in Iraq...but iy is easier for cowwards like him to sit home and make up "facts" and cry.What a loser.

Um-hm. And this from someone who can't spell... or at least can't (or won't take the time to) proofread. Sure doesn't make me take your comments very seriously! Maher is not only incisive, but literate!

I see someone used the word "pinhead" to describe Bill Maher, you must be one of the extremest right-wing pro war people doing nothing but watching Bill Oriely(whom I am also a fan of). But c'mon, even Mr. Oreily would agree that a true patriot does not not need to wear an American flag pin to act in the best interest of his country.

Poor Bill. I once thought he was high all the time but I've changed my mind. After all, I've been with lots of people so I know; those who get even more stupid when high were stupid to begin with. As a black female, I am just as insulted by Bill's racist attitude as I am by jerk-off rappers. But I forgive him. I know he just needs to go in rehab.

Ahhhh, its election time again, and I see the right wing death toters are out making no sense.....trying to stop the good people of this country from thinking for themselves. Well right wingers, you have allready sent this once great country spiraling into destruction by your blind thoughtless following of war mongering coorperate whores.....(remember, if they say its a fact, please, no need to check it.....just believe them)I just want to say, way to go guys. Keep up the good work, and we will wish we lived in France. Be proud of yourselves. And never ever give into such people as Bill Maher, as they will make you think, and God forbid you have to do that for yourselves.

What's up with this ANONYMOUS SAID, and RUADH? Do you have anything better to do than COPY & PASTE your comments on the page? Bill has been and will always be the right person to speak aganist this sorry @ss ADMINSTRATION.. Question why has everyone abandon ship of this ADMINISTRATION? Could it be because he's WORST than the NIXION ADMIN. (Ooooo) What did we expect when they stole the election? And fixed the voting machines for the 2nd term. This has been the worst 7 years on record. Last but not least there were 2 buildings standing (Twin Towers) when BUSH took office and atleast 5 thousand + lives including those were killed in IRAQ, living, gas was a little more than a dollar, oil companies were not making 25 billion dollars profit, i say INVESTIGATE his co-horts from top to bottom. I could go on but no time for a movie script. Is Micheal Moore in the house any where?

New Rule #1 : If you don't want to wear an American flag on your lapel as a representative of your constituents (who include brave and noble veterans, past and present) in the U.S. Senate, don't run for public office (especially the presidency, jackass!).New Rule #2: If you think Bill Maher should be in public office, it's time for another hit off your bong. He also endorses legalization of drugs, which would probably make his show semi-funny.New Rule #3 : If you want to wear a flag pin or put a bumper sticker on your car, do it. If you don't, don't. Free country (that brave men died for--for you liberals, "brave" doesn't mean flamingly gay).

Bill Maher is a *ucking idiot who uses his celebrity to spout off about is opinion on politics and the United States. Let's send the mother *ucker to Iraq and see how long he spouts off in front of the troops!! Then send the *ocksucker to China and let him give some political commentary on the Chinese. People like this *sshole who bash the United States need to experience life as a "common" citizen in some third world nation. Maybe then they will shut the *uck up and support this great nation!!!

A great many people complain about the way the government is run. Complain about who runs it. Spent time telling us how to fix it. Well..put up or shut up. Change the rules and let the planet have a better form of government. That is unless you don't know of one.

Is anyone with a second grade education, except the incredibly naive, surprised at the unprecedendented destruction that this administration has brought about to this fragile planet not only internationally but domestically on every environmental and moral level imaginable? As the old saying goes what have they accomplished in seven years?!!! Even staunch Republicans are speechless on that question. Try it it's interesting.

I can think of only a few selfish accomplishments: First of all the President has profited from his oil interests and his $400,000 a year salary + riduculous benefits from his job as President,(a government handout for an idiot and his staff). By the time we are through enduring this administration he is through, we as taxpayers would have wasted $3.2 million dollars just on his salary alone, let alone the trillions of debt. Secondly, the Vice President continues to profit millions and more millions off the war as former President of Haliburton, not to mention his salary and benefits as VP. Why does the press not ask more questions concerning the blatant war profiteering? Is it not a war crime to profit from the butchering of innocent people for no other reason but profit? Is it not also a crime to profit from multi billion dollar defense contracts where no one else is even invited to bid? (Our VP has a profitable monopoly on killing hundreds of thousands of people). Let us not forget why most politicians are politicians. They don't know how to work a real job. That is why we in the real world are forced to support a daddy's boy, his staff, (Condensending Rice - there is a whole nother article), and his cronies and his dad. If you look at their histories, all have ran every "real world" company they have managed into the ground and as now an entire nation. (Hopefully with Hillary and Bill they can balance the budget... again!)

Heard the latest?: Haliburton has or is moving it's headquarters to Dubai(no taxes). It is our hard earned money (private enterprise participants),that is simply being handed over to the likes of the VP and Haliburton to supposedly feed and provide supplies and fuel for our troops. The weasel and his company and their various branches have found even more ways to profit billions from the loss of innocent life by now dodging taxes in Dubai. (More evidence for crimes)

We all fall short of the glory of GOD but I often wonder what it really feels like at your death bed when you realize you spent a great portion of your life getting "filthy" rich slaughtering your fellow human beings and their children for profit and to some how justify finishing "Daddy's war." How arrogant to think that every nation has to think the way the greedy US thinks. Contrary to the overall BUSH Sr. and Jr. philosophy: there are not enough resources on this tiny fragile planet to have the world you want. Have you not also noticed that over the last 2500 + days (seven wasted years), Mr. President, that there are not many people on this planet who are as misinformed and as uneducated as you are. I know smarter dropouts. (Michael Moore)Why don't you idiots at least provide health care to a nation that is forced to pay for your health care and benefits. What? a 33,333.33 a month handout for doing nothing is not enough to start paying for something?

To the American people: As a nation we need to impeach and hopefully imprison these war mongers and profiteers we have as our leaders. I for one do not want to keep paying out of my taxes their cushy government salaries, retirement, and benefits, they have become so accustomed to. At first we were the laughing stock of the free world. However it is no longer funny to have such idiots calling the shots for our country and the rest of the world. Please go to websites where you can sign up for their impeachment and hopefully imprisonment for the rest of their lives. I personally would not mind paying for the not so cushy prison time for the entire Bush Administraton, for the rest of their lives, because they have earned that right. It is up to us, supposedly the freest nation in the world.

after reading all the comments here ,all I can say is ,, come on people .. keep letting them divide us and we will be conquered .. they ( the government ) are all in on it together .. destroying the constitution one bit at a time .. IMHO .. anyway ... goodbye civil liberties .. just keep polerizing and fighting :) that's exactly what the government wants ... go ahead , don't beleive it at all .. Everything is all right :) Hey I think american Idol is on, got to go :)

Wow, I never know that jewelry made you a better American. Bill Maher has been on both sides of this mess, both right and left. It took being ripped to shreds by the right when he voiced an honest opinion to change him. So just remember all of you on the right don't think for yourselves or voice an opposing opinion or you too might end up on the left.SoCal

Bill maher>>>Please stick a red flag up your ass and throw yourself into a bull ring with a herd of cloned bulls genetically altered to ramrod gimps.Dear Bill get ever more ridiculous with every statment that comes tumbling out your cock-sucking mouth..

You right wingers need to stop accepting those drugs (and kool aid) that Mr. Limbugh and GW Bush have been feeding you. There's no similarities between Limbugh's idiotic and rascists comments and Bill Maher's political ones. None. Your phony patriotism has grown tired. If you really believed in the principles that this country was founded upon, you would be outraged when some little neo-nut politican says he can spy on, incarcerate, arrest, prosecute, convict, kidnap, torture and kill anyone he likes because he is the DECIDER. He is nothing but a criminal thug that needs to be removed form office, arrested, prosecuted and convicted and hung by his gonads -- assuming he has any. All of the few remaining imbecile supporters need to join him as you are all war criminals -- NOT patriots. So take your little lapel flags and stick them up your a$$es.

"Stone walls do not a prison make,Nor iron bars a cage"But comments from anonymous Are filled with cowardly rageOur Nation was founded on freedomTo give utterance to our thoughtBut it seems it's changed a lotAnd elections have been boughtThe Presidency once meant somethingAnd the President was the bestBut the man who now holds officeCan't even pass the testHis past is fraught with cowardiceHe didn't serve at allHe paid his way out of the GuardAnd didn't answer the callNow he is Commander in Chief Sending our troops to their doomThank God his term's almost overIt couldn't be too soonWe have to vote with discretionOur Nation's quality pendingSo do your research carefullyAnd vote a better ending.

As despicable as Bill Mayer is, and his insulting vocal garbage he spews out often, the very flag he has condemend gives him the right to free speech; millions of Americans have died to afford him and other that opportunity.

As for as watching his tv show, I'd rather visit the zoo and watch the monkeys perform.....they would win over him any day as an award for most stupid acting, living things.

When did disagreeing with the president become "treason"? I think that it was decided that it wasn't during the administration of John Adams when the Alien and Sedition act was declared unconstitutional. Well it doesn't suprise me that the right wing has forgotten history once again. As when Mr. Bush thought we could have "won" the Vietnam war, an eerily similar situation to what we are facing now where the people who we are trying to "save" just want us to go away. The problem is that if we do go away and let them run their lives as they want to, ie democracy, they will vote in a theocracy much like Iran. Hmmm, maybe Saddam wasn't so bad, at least compared to somebody who knows what God wants. Well their God, who doesn't seem to want the same thing as our God. Maybe we should just get religeon out of politics? Oh ya, we tried that but the right wing just seems to want to keep putting it back in.

I don't know why Bill Maher doesn't get his ass kicked every day of his life. He is one of the most iritating little bastards around. You don't need a lapel pin to show your patriotism, but it sure doesn't hurt to show the flag as often as possible, you little commie, you.

What if you have dual citizenship?Do you wear a flag for all the countries on your lapel or just the pin for the country you're living/working in at the time. Which flag goes on top? Do you wear your flag pin at half-lapel (half mast) for all the troops who have died and continue to die?When does someone write a book on Lapeliquette?

It's fascist. Plain and simple. And Bill is smart enough to call fascism what it is. He didn't call our president a fascist asshole...not that I know of...he just called the pins what they really represent.

I don't agree with everything Bill Maher says...but he does not diserve to die because he practices free speech in a time where our freedoms are being hindered.

If someone really looked around, the people who are the REAL AMERICANS are suffering: border cops, MIT students, radio and t.v. COMMENTATORS...in other words...normal, NON VIOLENT citizens of what used to be left of the "free" world.

Bill (what's his name) fancies himself an intellectual. He is an *ss and is in the same ilk as Maury Popvich (sp.), Rev. Al Charleton Sharpton, and others of the xtreeeeem left who bask in their own self-guilt and pity. They feel it necessary to condemn the "establishment" for everything they do - but these hate mongering pussies live in and make their coveted cash in the very establishment they condemn. I don't even pity Bill Maher - rather, I'd mock, cajole, and damn him to everlasting perdition if he were worth one bit of my time.

If you could strip the veneer from the faces of political thugs who use media propaganda to shape our thinking we would meet our displeasure. We're suckered with our endorsements while the nation's blood mixes with that of Iraqis in the sorry name of terrorism amid oil theft. Yeah, they use us to steal oil. Iran is certainly next. Terrorism is the tool of the ones who toots the loudest. I admire Bill for talking but thugs don't care. Ron Paul is the best candidate to date but a feared statistic like RFK, Gandhi and the like. You might want to set your sights for the heavenly where goodness has a chance to dance. Stephen

After listening to and readin Bill Mahers' comments, I am sickened by the crass garbage that spews from his mouth and those of his followers. He's the most worthless and badly informed commentator I can find today on televison. He would make a wonderful addition to the Hilldebeast team too. Two, self centered worthless people, who have never done anything but flap their big Freaking mouths. Human excrement has more worth.

No one is mentioning the fact that many of the Senators who are now opposing the war voted for it. In fact, many of them had the exact same information that the Adminstration had.

At least President Bush has maintained the same story this entire length of time. Wasn't it John Kerry who claimed to vote for it before he voted against it? At least with President Bush, you know where he stands. With Senator Clinton, Senator Obama, and many others, you can not get a straight answer out of them.

Hey right on Bill. If not drag queens then at least pinheads. Belligerant george the evil dunce wears one and look at him--deserted the reserves after cheating an honest person out of a training opportunity that might have made a difference. Dick the torturer took how many deferrments and he's got his pin. It's a truck load and that there is a single idiot left who is still buying it is unfathomable. The 28 per centers are those who perpetrated the crimes and their only chance is to persist in the lie or those so insecure in their mistake they cannot admit it. No one else will even mouth the words and so the sum total of those who believe is zero. Where is the apology? Conrad Elledge

I am a combat veteran (army) and don't wear a flag pin or have any yellow ribbons on my car, even though I obviously support the troops. I don't think anyone is necessarily an a**hole for wearing a flag pin but look, President bush wears a pin all the time. Doesn't that say it all? Wearing a flag pin does not make you patriotic nor does putting a yellow ribbon on your car mean you support the troops when you let your elected officials send more and more of them to their death without saying anything. Those who do the least make the biggest noise about how patriotic and brave they are. Bill Maher deserves a pat on the back for pointing this out to all the "paper tigers."

Wait a minute - I don't understand this. People can wear AIDS ribbons all over their lapels, and those who don't are classified as bigoted homophobes. But, those that don't wear the flag on their lapel is labeled as a patriot. Right? I thought these ribbon wearers cared more than those who don't. So, if someone wears a US flag on their lapel is labeled an "asshole" by a guy who looks like one?

The hypocracy is hilarious - people should GROW UP first before they form opinions.

I don't agree with everything Bill Maher says, but he's right. It is a pin, a symbol. Likely made in China where American jobs are outsourced. Senator Obama is right, there's more to patriotism than wearing a $5 pin and waving the flag around. Bush's daughter said in TIME magazine that it would be impractical for her to serve in the war. Not once did she say that she would love to serve in the war. But I'm sure she and her family are avid collectors of American flags.Bottom line is some people are lampooning Maher because he is agnostic and criticizing Senator Obama because he is Black. Some right-wing conservatives don't seem to be paying attention to anything the two of them are essentially saying. The both of them could accurately predict a torrential and massive flood submerging all of the South, but some conservatives wouldn't listen for a minute to save themselves. They've written those two off before they could open their mouths.

Wear a pin or don't wear a pin isn't very important. Bill Maher is just a confused actor. the real issue is that those who commit war on America are going to pay BIG TIME for it. If their is another attack on the USA or it's allies and the constitution is suspended because of it. All these quislings [and please look the word up] will go behind barb wire, jail or hung for treason. In the midddle of a real war, people do need to choose sides. I advise people to wake up. America and people do have enemies. That's how it's always been on this planet.

Bill Maher always manages to strike the right note with me. I'm in the military, am I considered a patriot? No. I actually think most Americans are selfish A**HOLES. This isn't a fight I want to be in. I just joined because I was a poor single mother and I didn't want my children and I to have to use food stamps. Wearing a pin means nothing.

Reminds me a bit of all that flag burning crap that was popular not so long back. Since when did a stripey bit of cloth represent America, well maybe if your a bit weak spirited.. Lordy, it does'nt take much to rattle some peoples cages.By the way, what IS the proper way of disposing of a worn out 'Starts & Stripes'..? Burning it with revererance, right..? Wonder if a judge could distinguish between revererance & irreverance... mind reading? Sounds like George Orwell to me..

These flag waving Fa**ots kill me. They are so worried about lapel pins and bumper stickers to show how much they love the troops, but they don't want to bring them home alive. If O'Rielly and Rush and all these other warmongers really cared about the troops and their families, they would help put a stop to the oil wars. Instead they're telling us we have to fight the ememies over there so they don't come over here. That's the worst bullsh*t logic for killing people I've ever heard. Fear is the enemy.